Apple plans to use its own in-house 5G modems in two upcoming iPhones, first in the iPhone SE4 (slated for first quarter 2025) and then in the “ultra-slim” iPhone 17 – “iPhone 17 Ultra?” – in third quarter 2025, according to a post on X from TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo on Wednesday.
TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo via X:
Apple is accelerating its move away from reliance on Qualcomm. In 2025, two new iPhone models will ditch Qualcomm’s 5G chips and adopt Apple’s in-house 5G chips: the iPhone SE4 (1Q25) and the ultra-slim iPhone 17 (3Q25).
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MacDailyNews Take: Apple’s modem effort has been through so many fits and starts that we’ll believe it when we see it.
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That iPhone SE 4, if 1st quarter 2025 release, may be based on standard iPhone 13. It is still in current lineup, but will likely be discontinued soon. That’s been the pattern for the SE… A popular proven design discontinued in Fall, reborn as the next SE in Spring, with updated specs. This will be a big upgrade, with 6.1-inch edge-to-edge OLED screen, notched for FaceID. Two back cameras. USB-C. And enough performance to support Apple Intelligence for at least the following three years. Plus significantly higher price than current less than $400 on sale. I’d prefer the minimalist current SE 3 design with updated specs; it’s the small one-handed iPhone design envisioned by Steve Jobs. Apple may want a choice that is much lower cost, the iPhone classic. But I don’t think that’ll happen.
I suppose it’s safest to test out the waters for their new modem chip on the SE rather than make it exclusive to the next Ultra model just in case there are still major bugs to squash.